Major changes are proposed for Cowcaddens Rd/Dobbie’s Loan (visual of Port Dundas Rd, above). Another Avenues project on Pitt St has a Traffic Regulation Order, as does the East City Way on London Rd. It’s last call for St George’s Rd but more from Connecting Woodside in Glasgow’s TROs. 

East Renfrewshire’s Local Action Plans close soon but Balgray Connections is open a bit longer. East Dunbartonshire have extended one consultation and started a major one about the Springburn Rd/Kirkintilloch Rd ‘corridor’. Also, good news from Inverclyde.

1: Current Consultations

1. St George’s Road – Phase 2
2. Giffnock Local Action Plan map
3. Clarkston Local Action Plan map
4. Eaglesham Local Action Plan map
5. Lennoxtown Main Street Improvement Project Consultation
6. Balgray Connections
7. A803 Corridor Improvements Project (Springburn Rd)
8. Cowcaddens Road & Dobbie’s Loan (Avenues Plus)

2: Consultation Feedback

1. Greenock town centre to Battery Park SfP lane
2. Port Glasgow 20mph zone
3. Glasgow Uni campus redevelopment – October 2022 newsletter

3: Proposed Traffic Calming/Traffic Regulation Orders

1. East Dunbartonshire TROs
2. Glasgow City Traffic Calming/TROs

1: Current Consultations
(in date order for responses)

1.1: St George’s Road – Phase 2

Council: Glasgow City.
Area: Part of the wider Connecting Woodside project.
Subject: St George’s Rd, including remodelling the dangerous Charing Cross junction. A 2-way protected cycletrack would run from there alongside the M8 (with two options for the crossing at Phoenix Rd). It then crosses from the south to north side of the road at Clarendon Place, which would be stopped up at its south end (and re-opened at north). The route would continue on the north side of St George’s Rd to meet the protected lane already built at Garscube Rd. Also, it would have new pedestrian crossings at Woodside Library, N Woodside Rd and St George’s in the Fields.
Featured: Digest 121, Item 1.13.
Website links: St George’s Rd consultation (foot of page), storymap and survey.
Deadline: 14 November 2022.

1.2: Giffnock Local Action Plan map

Council: East Renfrewshire.
Subject: Three further consultations on East Ren towns (following the five in Digest 112, June 2022). While each varies in size, all are relatively affluent and suburban areas south of Glasgow. All three have drop-in events but Giffnock’s took place earlier in the month. Giffnock includes Fenwick Rd, which had ‘soft segregation’ on its cycle lanes for a while before the temporary bollards were removed in spring (Digest 107). As well as the A77, a rail line goes through the town with only a handful of crossing points. The map has over 150 comments.
Featured: Digest 121, Item 1.14.
Website links: Giffnock Commonplace map.
Deadline: 14 November 2022.

1.3: Clarkston Local Action Plan map

Council: East Renfrewshire.
Subject: Clarkston’s consultation comes after its neighbour across the White Cart Water, Busby, had its turn in the summer. The southern edge of Clarkston includes Williamwood High School, off Eaglesham Rd (B767), the subject of a current cycle lane petition. The map has over 260 comments.
Featured: Digest 121, Item 1.15 and previous Clarkston consultation.
Website links: Clarkston Commonplace map.
Deadline: 14 November 2022.

1.4: Eaglesham Local Action Plan map

Council: East Renfrewshire.
Subject: While many of East Ren’s towns bleed into each other, Eaglesham is more rural, between Whitelee Wind Farm and East Kilbride, South Lanarkshire. Also, it’s less connected, without a rail line or cycle paths to nearby towns. The map has over 60 comments.
Featured: Digest 121, Item 1.16.
Website links: Eaglesham Commonplace map.
Deadline: 14 November 2022.

1.5: Lennoxtown Main Street Improvement Project Consultation

Council: East Dunbartonshire.
Subject: Lennoxtown is known as the site of Celtic FC’s training complex. Despite being at the foot of the Campsie Hills, its Main St is not as picturesque as its setting. It has had some regeneration, including Lennoxtown Hub, housing the library and health services. Now a previous improvement project from 2019 is restarting – an initial survey is due to lead to refreshed concept designs for the Main St.
Featured: Digest 121, Item 1.7.
Website links: Lennoxtown project page and survey.
Deadline: 20 November 2022 (EXTENDED).

1.6: Balgray Connections

Council: East Renfrewshire.
Area: Balgray reservoir in Dams to Darnley Country Park, between Barrhead and Newton Mearns in East Renfrewshire.
Subject: Active travel paths added to Aurs Rd in Barrhead and Barrhead Rd in Newton Mearns. In Barrhead, it seems to be a ‘Quietway’-style route on Springfield Dr, parallel to Aurs Rd. It would have raised road tables at junctions and toucan crossings at Aurs Rd and Springfield Rd. At the Newton Mearns end, there would be a shared pavement around the M77 bridge and Westacre Roundabout. However, east of a toucan crossing, there would be proper segregated cycle lanes. These should go the rest of the way to Mearns Cross but there’s doubt about the design around bus stops (possibly due to accessibility concerns?). The Aurs Rd re-alignment project is the bit in the middle, due for construction in 2023–24.
Featured: Digest 122, Item 1.12.
Website links: Balgray Connections Commonplace map.
Deadline: 21 November 2022.

1.7: A803 Corridor Improvements Project

Organisations: East Dunbartonshire Council, Glasgow City Council and Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT).
Area: Most of the length of the A803, Springburn Rd/Kirkintilloch Rd. It runs from the M8 through North Glasgow to Bishopbriggs.
Subject: Phase 1 of a joint City Deal project about how to improve the A803 corridor. In Glasgow, it’s a dual carriageway which is a barrier between neighbourhoods. It has some shared paths around it but none are very wide (despite having space on some of its verges). Towards Bishopbriggs it narrows to one lane each way and is a busy main road surrounded by housing, car showrooms and shops. There’s potential to link to existing protected cycle lanes at Hawthorn St and Fountainwell Rd. Also, to nearby train stations at Springburn and at Bishopbriggs. The A803 project will tie in with Bishopbriggs Town Centre Regeneration. The survey is a chance to get protected cycle lanes into the plans.
Drop-in event – Bishopbriggs War Memorial Hall on Tuesday 15 November, 12–6.30pm. Also, the survey is available in Springburn Library, Bishopbriggs Library and Leisuredrome Leisure Centre. 
Website links: A803 Corridor Improvements Project – Survey and A803 Stage 1 Consultation Boards (PDF, 71MB).
Deadline: 22 November 2022.

1.8: Cowcaddens Road & Dobbie’s Loan (Avenues Plus)

Council: Glasgow City.
Area: The length of Cowcaddens Rd from Cambridge St to Caledonian Uni. A section of Dobbie’s Loan between N Hanover St and Canal St.
Subject: Part of the Avenues Plus project, which also covers Duke St/John Knox Street and S Portland St (which had a consultation event in May 2022). Cowcaddens Rd and Dobbie’s Loan both link to N Hanover St and have a joint consultation. The plans for Cowcaddens Rd look promising, especially the radical redesign options for the Port Dundas Rd junction (in featured image at top). The Dobbie’s Loan plans also add two-way protected lanes (especially useful for students at Glasgow Caledonian Uni and its nearby halls). However, the lanes stop short of the trunk road junction, which leads under the M8 to Craighall Rd and Port Dundas. The boards include an updated Avenues phasing map (now with Block D added). A very short notice consultation event took place on 31 October.
Website links: Consultation landing page, survey, boards (PDF), plans (PDF), 3D panoramas and 3D fly-through videos.
Deadline: 25 November 2022.

2: Consultation Feedback

2.1:  Greenock town centre to Battery Park SfP lane

Council: Inverclyde.
Subject: The council voted to make the Spaces for People route permanent (as its SfP update report had recommended). The report also recommended improvements including a kerb between the footway/cycleway, resurfacing and dedicated cycle traffic light phases. There will be a focus on the wider section from Dalrymple Street, Container Way and Custom House Way (where the Coastal Path comes inland around Greenock Ocean Terminal). However, we’ll have to wait and see what Sustrans come up with in future.
Featured: Digest 108, Item 1.12.
Website links: Inverclyde Now article on October 2022 council vote and Inverclyde Now article on March 2022 council vote.

2.2: Port Glasgow 20mph zone

Council: Inverclyde.
Subject: Staying in Inverclyde, the proposed 20mph zone in Port Glasgow was also approved by the council. This includes changing the route of NCN75 to go along Auchenbothie Road and upgrading some sections of path.
Featured: Digest 115, Item 1.1.
Website links: Inverclyde Now article on Port Glasgow 20mph decision.

2.3: Glasgow Uni campus redevelopment – October 2022 newsletter

Organisation: Glasgow Uni.
Subject: Work continues in the West End on Glasgow Uni’s new buildings. Also, the landscape outside them, including rain gardens to protect against flooding (pictured, above). The zigzag path could make for a technical descent/climb (but at least it seems to be lit). Hopefully other entrances to the site are a bit more direct. Some at the south-west of the site may be disrupted from January, when Byres Rd’s redevelopment is due to start.
Website links: Campus redevelopment newsletter – October 2022.

Section 3: Proposed Traffic Regulation Orders

3.1: East Dunbartonshire TROs

Areas: Bearsden (‘MacFarlane etc Redetermination’) and Bishopbriggs (Linnhe Ave and Schools Orders).
Subject: Orders to redetermine footways and parking restrictions.
Website links: East Dunbartonshire TROs (at foot of Roadworks page).

3.2: Glasgow City Traffic Calming/TROs

Areas: City-wide.
Subject: TROs – Pitt Street‘s TRO is, confusingly, called Holland St Avenue (apparently the lane was going there before a rethink). Pitt St will link between the protected cycle lanes on Sauchiehall St (Avenue) and Waterloo St (West City Way/Connect2). This TRO only sets restrictions but the council’s plans for Pitt St (PDF) are shown too. Apart from the tricky junction at Waterloo St, the red lanes look more straightforward than the buff-coloured section at the new Moda development (old police station site). However, there is a pretty steep slope going north between Bothwell St and W George Lane. GoBike asked the council about some of these issues earlier in the process. We got a detailed response from the council’s Sustainable Transport team justifying their decisions. While “gradients of adjacent streets… are similar”, Pitt St is a few blocks longer than Holland St so is a tougher climb.
London Rd – a proposed TRO would set the scene for permanent phases of the East City Way past the velodrome (as seen in Digest 113, Item 1.4). It has its own complicated junctions at Dunn St and Springfield Rd (but the latter does convert a filter lane into cycling space). The council wants to build the project before the UCI Cycling World Championships in August 2023. Stopwatches at the ready…
Provanmill Rd and Cumbernauld Rd – two other Spaces for People projects near Hogganfield Park with proposed TROs.
Raeberry St – one-ways and a cycling only restriction proposed for the junction of Mount St/Simpson St (part of Connecting Woodside).
The School Streets order (for 19 primary schools) was made on 24 October 2022, as covered in Digest 105, Item 1.2. On the same date an order was also made for the Cardonald area (see Digest 97, Item 1.2).
Traffic Calming – Linkwood Dr, Drumchapel; Wardie Rd, Easterhouse. 
Website links: Glasgow City Proposed TROs, Glasgow City Proposed Traffic Calming Schemes.

The latest drop-in event is about Dams to Darnley Country Park and East Renfrewshire’s Balgray Connections project. Today’s event is in Avenue Shopping Centre, Newton Mearns, 11am–3pm (near Costa). Another follows on 2 November, 3pm to 7pm at Barrhead Foundry centre.

Also, it’s decision day at Inverclyde Council for the Spaces for People route in Greenock. Will they follow Renfrewshire and remove it? Or will it get a stay of execution?

A few consultations come to an end over the Hallowe’en weekend – including for North Ayrshire, North Lanarkshire, East Dunbartonshire and Glasgow.

1: Current Consultations

1. Greenock to Battery Park SfP lane
2. Irvine housing developments
3. Ravenscraig Levelling Up Fund bid
4. Meadowhead Road (Craigneuk) Active Travel and Road Safety Improvement
5. South Central Local Development Framework (SCLDF)
6. Lennoxtown Main Street Improvement Project Consultation
7. Loans to Troon active travel path – Phase 3
8. St George’s Road – Phase 2
9. Giffnock Local Action Plan map
10. Clarkston Local Action Plan map
11. Eaglesham Local Action Plan map
12. Balgray Connections

2: Consultation Feedback

1. Dennistoun to Cranhill event
2. Eurocentral/A8 roundabout
3. Bellshill ‘Wheeled Sports Area’ opening

3: Proposed Traffic Calming/Traffic Regulation Orders

1. East Dunbartonshire TROs
2. Glasgow City TROs
3. North Lanarkshire TROs

1: Current Consultations
(in date order for responses)

1.1: Greenock to Battery Park SfP lane

Council: Inverclyde.
Subject: Spaces for People temporary route between Greenock town centre and a coastal park. A mix of painted lanes on pavement and protected cycletracks on road. A vote by the council in March was 9:2 in favour of keeping the lanes for another six months. A review was due in September with the next environment and regeneration committee meeting on 27 October. The council’s SfP update report has some interesting statistics about cycle usage and traffic flow. People cycling the existing Coastal Path (east of the new lanes) seem to stay on the eastern shared pavement on Container Way; then use Patrick St/Brougham St instead of crossing to Laird St/Dalrymple St. The western side of Container Way has strange chicane barriers and Tesco’s car park entrance, which may have something to do with it (above). The report recommends improvements and making the temporary lanes permanent.
Featured: Digest 108, Item 1.12.
Website links: Greenock Town Centre to Battery Park – Community Engagement and Inverclyde Now article on council vote (March 2022).
Deadline: No obvious deadline.

1.2: Irvine housing developments

Council: North Ayrshire
Subject: Two sites are being redeveloped – part of Ayrshire Central Hospital’s grounds and Montgomerie Park in Irvine, either side of the A78. Both housing plans include accessible homes and walking/cycling links. Montgomerie Park seems to include a cycle path alongside the site, which links to an existing off-road path, but there isn’t much detail.
Featured: Digest 120, Item 1.6.
Website links: Ayrshire Central Hospital consultation and Montgomerie Park consultation.
Deadline: 28 October 2022.

1.3: Ravenscraig Levelling Up Fund bid

Council: North Lanarkshire.
Area: Part of the former Ravenscraig Steelworks site between Motherwell and Wishaw.
Subject: ‘Proposals to develop a large site in Ravenscraig.’ However, it’s a relatively small part of the huge Ravenscraig site. Also, most of the money appears to go on groundworks for utilities. New active travel links would be mainly linking the new estate to existing paths. That would still leave the ‘missing link’ to the west of Robberhall Rd towards Coursington Rd. The bid for the former industrial site would go to the UK Government’s Levelling Up Fund (without any hint of irony!). Comments have to go to the council by email: ravenscraigluf@northlan.gov.uk.
Website links: Ravenscraig Levelling Up Fund bid webpage.
Deadline: 28 October 2022.

1.4: Meadowhead Road (Craigneuk) Active Travel and Road Safety Improvement

Council: North Lanarkshire.
Area: Craigneuk area between Ravenscraig and Wishaw (near Shieldmuir train station).
Subject: ‘Take 2’ for this street after a previous attempt at active travel improvements hit the skids. The Meadowhead Rd plans from 2020 included rain gardens, speed chicanes and changes to car parking. Some residents took issue with the latter – the project was delayed and then lost funding. The new plans widen the north footway to a 3m shared path. The road is a bus route, which had ruled out speed bumps, but the new plans add half a dozen speed tables. A path already goes east from the Wishawhill Wood Pump Track to Wishaw’s Main St. Meadowhead Rd could connect between it and the recent Ravenscraig Active Travel Link path, going north to the new playpark by the Regional Sports Centre.
Featured: Digest 80, Item 1.2.
Website links: Meadowhead Rd consultation webpage and Meadowhead Rd ‘storymap’.
Deadline: 30 October 2022.

1.5: South Central Local Development Framework (SCLDF)

Council: Glasgow City.
Area: South of the river from Kinning Park round to Oatlands and down to Shawlands (excluding Pollokshields).
Subject: Toryglen is also included in the ‘South Central’ area for this Local Development Framework. Apparently, it’s less urgent than a Strategic Development Framework (SDF). The neighbourhoods involved vary from less well off Govanhill to affluent Strathbungo. Also, the map of the area shows how it overlaps with the Riverside SDF between the Barclays site and the Squinty Bridge.
Featured: Digest 118, Item 1.12.
Website links: Transforming Communities Glasgow webpage.
Deadline: 31 October 2022.

1.6: Lennoxtown Main Street Improvement Project Consultation

Council: East Dunbartonshire.
Subject: Lennoxtown is known as the site of Celtic FC’s training complex. Despite being at the foot of the Campsie Hills, its Main St is not as picturesque as its setting. It has had some regeneration, including Lennoxtown Hub, housing the library and health services. Now a previous improvement project from 2019 is restarting – an initial survey is due to lead to refreshed concept designs for the Main St.
Featured: Digest 121, Item 1.7.
Website links: Lennoxtown project page and survey.
Deadline: 31 October 2022.

1.7: Loans to Troon active travel path – Phase 3

Organisation: Ayrshire Roads Alliance (ARA).
Subject: Another second attempt at a consultation. This path and 2-way cycletrack built in Troon as a Places for Everyone project is to be extended to the village of Loans, South Ayrshire. ARA say: “Phase 3 will complement the completed Phase 1, from Troon Train Station to Dundonald Road via Harling Drive, and Phase 2, through Marr College playing fields to Muirhead Primary School.” This consultation has two options about which way to take the Buchan Rd path. Both are residential streets with on-street car parking – Lochlea Ave or North Dr (which leads to an existing path to Loans). A previous consultation had detailed plans for one-way streets but that isn’t mentioned this time. There’s a map to comment on and a detailed survey.
Featured: Digest 120, Item 1.9.
Website links: Loans to Troon consultation/survey and ARA consultation page.
Deadline: 4 November 2022.

1.8: St George’s Road – Phase 2

Council: Glasgow City.
Area: Part of the wider Connecting Woodside project.
Subject: St George’s Rd, including remodelling the dangerous Charing Cross junction. A 2-way protected cycletrack would run from there alongside the M8 (with two options for the crossing at Phoenix Rd). It then crosses from the south to north side of the road at Clarendon Place, which would be stopped up at its south end (and re-opened at north). The route would continue on the north side of St George’s Rd to meet the protected lane already built at Garscube Rd. Also, it would have new pedestrian crossings at Woodside Library, N Woodside Rd and St George’s in the Fields.
Featured: Digest 121, Item 1.13.
Website links: St George’s Rd consultation (foot of page), storymap and survey.
Deadline: 14 November 2022.

1.9: Giffnock Local Action Plan map

Council: East Renfrewshire.
Subject: Three further consultations on East Ren towns (following the five in Digest 112, June 2022). While each varies in size, all are relatively affluent and suburban areas south of Glasgow. All three have drop-in events but Giffnock’s took place earlier in the month. Giffnock includes Fenwick Rd, which had ‘soft segregation’ on its cycle lanes for a while before the temporary bollards were removed in spring (Digest 107). As well as the A77, a rail line goes through the town with only a handful of crossing points. The map has over 150 comments.
Featured: Digest 121, Item 1.14.
Website links: Giffnock Commonplace map.
Deadline: 14 November 2022.

1.10: Clarkston Local Action Plan map

Council: East Renfrewshire.
Subject: Clarkston’s consultation comes after its neighbour across the White Cart Water, Busby, had its turn in the summer. The southern edge of Clarkston includes Williamwood High School, off Eaglesham Rd (B767), the subject of a current cycle lane petition. The map has over 260 comments.
Featured: Digest 121, Item 1.15 and previous Clarkston consultation.
Website links: Clarkston Commonplace map.
Deadline: 14 November 2022.

1.11: Eaglesham Local Action Plan map

Council: East Renfrewshire.
Subject: While many of East Ren’s towns bleed into each other, Eaglesham is more rural, between Whitelee Wind Farm and East Kilbride, South Lanarkshire. Also, it’s less connected, without a rail line or cycle paths to nearby towns. The map has over 60 comments.
Drop in event – Eglinton Arms Hotel: Tuesday 1 November, 9.30am – 11am & 3.30pm – 7pm. 
Featured: Digest 121, Item 1.16.
Website links: Eaglesham Commonplace map.
Deadline: 14 November 2022.

1.12: Balgray Connections

Council: East Renfrewshire.
Area: Balgray reservoir in Dams to Darnley Country Park, between Barrhead and Newton Mearns in East Renfrewshire.
Subject: Active travel paths added to Aurs Rd in Barrhead and Barrhead Rd in Newton Mearns. In Barrhead, it seems to be a ‘Quietway’-style route on Springfield Dr, parallel to Aurs Rd. It would have raised road tables at junctions and toucan crossings at Aurs Rd and Springfield Rd. At the Newton Mearns end, there would be a shared pavement around the M77 bridge and Westacre Roundabout. However, east of a toucan crossing, there would be proper segregated cycle lanes. These should go the rest of the way to Mearns Cross but there’s doubt about the design around bus stops (possibly due to accessibility concerns?). The Aurs Rd re-alignment project is the bit in the middle, due for construction in 2023–24.
Drop-in events – The Avenue Shopping Centre, Newton Mearns: Thurs 27 October, 11am–3pm. Barrhead Foundry centre: Wed 2 November, 3–7pm.
Website links: Balgray Connections Commonplace map.
Deadline: 21 November 2022.

2: Consultation Feedback

2.1: Dennistoun to Cranhill event

Council: Glasgow City.
Subject: An in-person consultation event took place at Reidvale Centre about initial projects for the Dennistoun to Cranhill Liveable Neighbourhoods project. Like other LN areas, the in-depth Stage 1 report had a long list of potential projects. Those projects went to local ward councillors and Spatial Planning officers to help choose a shortlist. See links to display boards of the five initial projects: Dennistoun/Reidvale railway bridges (between Bellgrove station and Millerston St), Riddrie Town Centre (Smithycroft Rd), Carntyne Square, Hogarth Park/Todd St improvements and Cranhill M8 bridge lighting. These will go in a Stage 2 report to the council in late November.
Featured: Digest 118, Item 2.1.
Website links: LN drop-in event background (Dennistoun Community Council) and City Council LN webpage.

2.2: Eurocentral/A8 roundabout

Council: North Lanarkshire.
Area: A8, next to the M8, between Coatbridge, Bellshill and EuroCentral Business Park.
Subject: Apparently, NLC’s surveys for a ‘park and ride’ train station at a motorway business park didn’t show enough demand. Instead, they’ve changed their City Deal project to a roundabout on a dual carriageway (with a few active travel routes)! The new junction on the A8 would link to to an expanded railhead for freight (currently accessed from Reema Rd, Mossend) and to the former Shanks & McEwan site at Carnbroe/Orchard Farm. The active travel routes would apparently link EuroCentral west to Mossend and east to Newhouse but there are no designs. The email says NLC will appoint designers during the winter so there may be a consultation during 2023.
Website links: City Deal projects along the A8/M8. Also, railhead planning application and Carnbroe Waste/Renewable Energy Facility planning application (which locals have campaigned against).

2.3: Bellshill ‘Wheeled Sports Area’ opening

Council: North Lanarkshire.
Area: Strathclyde Country Park – north of Bellshill Golf Club, near Bankhead Ave and Bellshill Rd (A721).
Subject: More positive news the other side of Bellshill where the VeloPark consulted on in summer 2021 has just opened (now the ‘Wheeled Sports Area’). It has a pump track and mountain bike trails as well as upgraded paths. Should be a great addition to the park and Bellshill, especially for younger generations. Images and video from the opening weekend show it was very popular.
Featured: Digest 92, Item 1.9.
Website links: NLC Wheeled Sports Area webpage and post by Socialtrack.

Section 3: Proposed Traffic Regulation Orders

3.1: East Dunbartonshire TROs

Areas: Bearsden (Allander Junction and ‘MacFarlane etc Redetermination’); Bishopbriggs (Linnhe Ave and Schools Orders); Kirkintilloch (Market Road & Chryston Road).
Subject: Orders to redetermine footways and parking restrictions (including near the Bearsway).
Website links: East Dunbartonshire TROs (at foot of Roadworks page).

3.2: Glasgow City Traffic Calming/TROs

Areas: City-wide.
Subject: TROs – There are another two TROs for Spaces for People projects – Provanmill Rd, Blackhill and Cumbernauld Rd (next to Hogganfield Park) plus the five ‘made’ SfP orders. Also, proposed TROs for Leeside Dr and a few for Carmunnock Rd.
Traffic Calming – Linkwood Dr, Drumchapel; Wardie Rd, Easterhouse. 
Website links: Glasgow City Proposed TROs, Glasgow City Proposed Traffic Calming Schemes.

3.3: North Lanarkshire TROs

Areas: Bellshill and Glenmavis.
Subject: Orders to reduce speed limits on the A721 Motherwell Rd/Bellshill Rd and B802 Glenmavis Rd.
Website links: North Lanarkshire Live Consultations.

*Quote from ‘Night of the Demon’ (1957) as sampled on ‘Hounds of Love’ by Kate Bush. Don’t have nightmares…

Two drop-in events on today – one for Liveable Neighbourhoods in Dennistoun, Glasgow. The other for a funding bid at the Ravenscraig Regional Sports Facility, North Lanarkshire. More events to come for St George’s Rd, Glasgow and in East Renfrewshire for the Clarkston and Eaglesham Local Action Plans.

The most eye-catching plans in this issue are for St George’s Rd and Charing Cross. As part of Connecting Woodside, it’s due to link to the existing route on Garscube Rd.

1: Current Consultations

1. Dennistoun to Cranhill Liveable Neighbourhoods drop-in event
2. Dummy Railway path
3. Ruchill Street Placemaking
4. Langside Monument public realm
5. Toryglen Streets for People
6. Greenock to Battery Park SfP lane
7. Irvine housing developments
8. Ravenscraig Levelling Up Fund bid
9. Meadowhead Road (Craigneuk) Active Travel and Road Safety Improvement
10. South Central Local Development Framework (SCLDF)
11. Lennoxtown Main Street Improvement Project Consultation
12. Loans to Troon active travel path – Phase 3
13. St George’s Road – Phase 2
14. Giffnock Local Action Plan map
15. Clarkston Local Action Plan map
16. Eaglesham Local Action Plan map

2: Consultation Feedback

1. Newton Mearns – Ayr Road Phase 1 shared path opens

3: Proposed Traffic Calming/Traffic Regulation Orders

1. East Dunbartonshire TROs
2. Glasgow City TROs
3. North Lanarkshire TROs

1: Current Consultations
(in date order for responses)

1.1: Dennistoun to Cranhill Liveable Neighbourhoods drop-in event

Council: Glasgow City.
Subject: An in-person event TODAY at Reidvale Centre, 13 Whitevale St, Glasgow G31 1QW. It’s about the potential projects in the LN Stage 1 report (which came out in August). The long list of 26 has gone to local ward councillors and Spatial Planning officers to help choose a shortlist. There are five initial projects: Dennistoun railway bridges (between Bellgrove station and Millerston St), Riddrie Town Centre (Smithycroft Rd), Carntyne Square, Hogarth Park improvements and Cranhill M8 bridge lighting. After the engagement event, these will go in a Stage 2 report to the council in late November.
Featured: Digest 118, Item 2.1.
Website links: LN drop-in event details (Dennistoun Community Council website).
Deadline: 13th October 10am–4pm.

1.2: Dummy Railway path

Council: Glasgow City.
Area: Path between Ruchill and Possilpark near Panmure St.
Subject: A confusing nickname given to at least two old railways around Possil (and one in Paisley). In this case it refers to the former line from Panmure St, north of the canal, to Balmore Rd. The current path is narrow and has some steps so the plan is to upgrade it and add links to existing housing and a new estate. This comes from the Ruchill to Cowlairs Liveable Neighbourhood project.
Featured: Digest 118, Item 1.8.
Website links: LN Tranche 2 projects ‘storymap’ and Dummy Railway survey
Deadline: 14 October 2022 (extended).

1.3: Ruchill Street Placemaking

Council: Glasgow City.
Subject: Another project from the Ruchill to Cowlairs Liveable Neighbourhood. The visuals showing cycling and walking are positive but it’s only an initial design. Whether or not Ruchill St ever looks anything like that may depend on the response to the consultation.
Featured: Digest 118, Item 1.9.
Website links: LN Tranche 2 projects ‘storymap’ and Ruchill St survey.
Deadline: 14 October 2022 (extended).

1.4: Langside Monument public realm

Council: Glasgow City.
Subject: A project from the Langside to Toryglen LN. It would change the road layout around the monument at the junction of Langside Ave and Battlefield Rd. Removing the road to the north of it would join it onto Queen’s Park near the glasshouse. Another feature would be adding trees and planting.
Featured: Digest 118, Item 1.10.
Website links: LN Tranche 2 projects ‘storymap’ and Langside Monument survey.
Deadline: 14 October 2022 (extended).

1.5: Toryglen Streets for People

Council: Glasgow City.
Subject: Another project from the Langside to Toryglen LN. This would link a network of paths and streets, like Lubas Ave and Ardnahoe Ave, and add trees and planting. Also, slides and colourful crossings feature in the visuals (perhaps inspired by multi-coloured crossings in Dumbarton and elsewhere).
Featured: Digest 118, Item 1.11.
Website links: LN Tranche 2 projects ‘storymap’ and Toryglen Streets for People survey.
Deadline: 14 October 2022 (extended).

1.6: Greenock to Battery Park SfP lane

Council: Inverclyde.
Subject: A Spaces for People temporary route between Greenock town centre and a coastal park. A vote by the council’s environment and regeneration committee was 9:2 in favour of keeping the lanes for another six months. A further review is due in September with the next committee meeting in late October. The photos in the consultation survey show a mixture of on-road ‘soft’ segregation and painted lanes on footways and across side roads. While some of the junction and bus stop treatments may not be ideal, there seem to be decent protected sections too.
Featured: Digest 108, Item 1.12.
Website links: Greenock Town Centre to Battery Park – Community Engagement and Inverclyde Now article on council vote.
Deadline: No obvious deadline.

1.7: Irvine housing developments

Council: North Ayrshire
Subject: Two sites are being redeveloped – part of Ayrshire Central Hospital’s grounds and Montgomerie Park in Irvine, either side of the A78. Both housing plans include accessible homes and walking/cycling links. Montgomerie Park seems to include a cycle path alongside the site, which links to an existing off-road path, but there isn’t much detail. Each development is due to have an in-person consultation event – Ayrshire Central Hospital on Tuesday 11 October and Montgomerie Park on Wednesday 26 October (no detail on venues/times).
Featured: Digest 120, Item 1.6.
Website links: Ayrshire Central Hospital consultation and Montgomerie Park consultation.
Deadline: 28 October 2022.

1.8: Ravenscraig Levelling Up Fund bid

Council: North Lanarkshire.
Area: Part of the former Ravenscraig Steelworks site between Motherwell and Wishaw.
Subject: ‘Proposals to develop a large site in Ravenscraig.’ However, it’s a relatively small part of the huge Ravenscraig site. Also, most of the money appears to go on groundworks for utilities. New active travel links would be mainly linking the new estate to existing paths. That would still leave the ‘missing link’ to the west of Robberhall Rd towards Coursington Rd. The bid for the former industrial site would go to the UK Government’s Levelling Up Fund (without any hint of irony!).
Drop in event – Ravenscraig Regional Sports Facility TODAY 13 October 2022 (2pm to 7.30pm). Comments have to go to the council by email: ravenscraigluf@northlan.gov.uk.
Website links: Ravenscraig Levelling Up Fund bid webpage.
Deadline: 28 October 2022.

1.9: Meadowhead Road (Craigneuk) Active Travel and Road Safety Improvement

Council: North Lanarkshire.
Area: Craigneuk area between Ravenscraig and Wishaw (near Shieldmuir train station).
Subject: ‘Take 2’ for this street after a previous attempt at active travel improvements hit the skids. The Meadowhead Rd plans from 2020 included rain gardens, speed chicanes and changes to car parking. Some residents took issue with the latter – the project was delayed and then lost funding. The new plans widen the north footway to a 3m shared path. The road is a bus route, which had ruled out speed bumps, but the new plans add half a dozen speed tables. A path already goes east from the Wishawhill Wood Pump Track to Wishaw’s Main St. Meadowhead Rd could connect between it and the recent Ravenscraig Active Travel Link path, going north to the new playpark by the Regional Sports Centre.
Featured: Digest 80, Item 1.2.
Website links: Meadowhead Rd consultation webpage and Meadowhead Rd ‘storymap’.
Deadline: 30 October 2022.

1.10: South Central Local Development Framework (SCLDF)

Council: Glasgow City.
Area: South of the river from Kinning Park round to Oatlands and down to Shawlands (excluding Pollokshields).
Subject: Toryglen is also included in the ‘South Central’ area for this Local Development Framework. Apparently, it’s less urgent than a Strategic Development Framework (SDF). The neighbourhoods involved vary from less well off Govanhill to affluent Strathbungo. Also, the map of the area shows how it overlaps with the Riverside SDF between the Barclays site and the Squinty Bridge.
Featured: Digest 118, Item 1.12.
Website links: Transforming Communities Glasgow webpage.
Deadline: 31 October 2022.

1.11: Lennoxtown Main Street Improvement Project Consultation

Council: East Dunbartonshire.
Subject: Lennoxtown is known as the site of Celtic FC’s training complex. Despite being at the foot of the Campsie Hills, its Main St is not as picturesque as its setting. It has had some regeneration, including Lennoxtown Hub, housing the library and health services. Now a previous improvement project from 2019 is restarting – an initial survey is due to lead to refreshed concept designs for the Main St.
Website links: Lennoxtown project page and survey.
Deadline: 31 October 2022.

1.12: Loans to Troon active travel path – Phase 3

Organisation: Ayrshire Roads Alliance (ARA).
Subject: Another second attempt at a consultation. This path and 2-way cycletrack built in Troon as a Places for Everyone project is to be extended to the village of Loans, South Ayrshire. ARA say: “Phase 3 will complement the completed Phase 1, from Troon Train Station to Dundonald Road via Harling Drive, and Phase 2, through Marr College playing fields to Muirhead Primary School.” This consultation has two options about which way to take the Buchan Rd path. Both are residential streets with on-street car parking – Lochlea Ave or North Dr (which leads to an existing path to Loans). A previous consultation had detailed plans for one-way streets but that isn’t mentioned this time. There’s a map to comment on and a detailed survey.
Featured: Digest 120, Item 1.9.
Website links: Loans to Troon consultation/survey and ARA consultation page.
Deadline: 4 November 2022.

1.13: St George’s Road – Phase 2

Council: Glasgow City.
Area: Part of the wider Connecting Woodside project.
Subject: St George’s Rd, including remodelling the dangerous Charing Cross junction. A 2-way protected cycletrack would run from there alongside the M8 (with two options for the crossing at Phoenix Rd). It then crosses from the south to north side of the road at Clarendon Place, which would be stopped up at its south end (and re-opened at north). The route would continue on the north side of St George’s Rd to meet the protected lane already built at Garscube Rd. Also, it would have new pedestrian crossings at Woodside Library, N Woodside Rd and St George’s in the Fields.
Drop in event – meet the Connecting Woodside project team at Woodside Library, 15:30 – 19:00 on 25 October 2022.
Website links: St George’s Rd consultation (foot of page), storymap and survey.
Deadline: 14 November 2022.

1.14: Giffnock Local Action Plan map

Council: East Renfrewshire.
Subject: Three further consultations on East Ren towns (following the five in Digest 112, June 2022). While each varies in size, all are relatively affluent and suburban areas south of Glasgow. All three have drop-in events but Giffnock’s took place earlier in the month. Giffnock includes Fenwick Rd, which had ‘soft segregation’ on its cycle lanes for a while before the temporary bollards were removed in spring (Digest 107). As well as the A77, a rail line goes through the town with only a handful of crossing points. The map has over 120 comments.
Website links: Giffnock Commonplace map.
Deadline: 14 November 2022.

1.15: Clarkston Local Action Plan map

Council: East Renfrewshire.
Subject: Clarkston’s consultation comes after its neighbour across the White Cart Water, Busby, had its turn in the summer. The southern edge of Clarkston includes Williamwood High School, off Eaglesham Rd (B767), the subject of a current cycle lane petition. The map has over 130 comments.
Drop in events – Clarkston Hall: Tuesday 18 October, 9.30am – 11am; Wednesday 19 October, 3pm – 7pm. 
Featured: Previous Clarkston consultation.
Website links: Clarkston Commonplace map.
Deadline: 14 November 2022.

1.16: Eaglesham Local Action Plan map

Council: East Renfrewshire.
Subject: While many of East Ren’s towns bleed into each other, Eaglesham is more rural, between Whitelee Wind Farm and East Kilbride, South Lanarkshire. Also, it’s less connected, without a rail line or cycle paths to nearby towns. The map has over 30 comments.
Drop in event – Eglinton Arms Hotel: Tuesday 1 November, 9.30am – 11am & 3.30pm – 7pm. 
Website links: Eaglesham Commonplace map.
Deadline: 14 November 2022.

2: Consultation Feedback

2.1: Newton Mearns – Ayr Road Phase 1 shared path opens

Council: East Renfrewshire.
Subject: Progress on one part of the A77 as the Phase 1 shared path route opened earlier in the month. It runs between North Hillhead Road and the M77 overbridge. Phase 2 would continue, in 1-way lanes, to the Malletsheugh roundabout – due to start construction in early 2023.
Featured: Digest 112, Item 1.7.
Website links: East Renfrewshire Council article.

3: Proposed Traffic Calming/TROs

3.1: East Dunbartonhire TROs

Areas: Bearsden, Bishopbriggs, Milton of Campsie, Kirkintilloch and Torrance.
Subject: Orders to redetermine footways and parking restrictions (including near the Bearsway).
Website links: Allander junction restrictions, Linnhe Ave etc restrictions, Macfarlane etc redetermination and Schools order Bishopbriggs etc restrictions.

3.2: Glasgow City Traffic Calming/TROs

Areas: City-wide.
Subject: TROs – There are the five ‘made’ TROs for Spaces for People projects plus proposed TROs for Leeside Dr and a few for Carmunnock Rd.
Traffic Calming – Linkwood Dr, Drumchapel; Wardie Rd, Easterhouse. 
Website links: Glasgow City Proposed TROs, Glasgow City Proposed Traffic Calming Schemes.

3.3: North Lanarkshire TROs

Areas: Bellshill and Glenmavis.
Subject: Orders to reduce speed limits on the A721 Motherwell Rd/Bellshill Rd and B802 Glenmavis Rd.
Website links: North Lanarkshire Live Consultations.

Glasgow’s Spaces for People consultation has ended but East Ren’s marches on. Near their border there’s a new 20mph zone. A new road and active travel networks in Lanarkshire, ‘Discussion’ continues in East Dunbartonshire and more post-match analysis from Dennistoun.

Infrastructure Update

• It’s good to see more Bikehangars going in across Glasgow but many are in inconvenient places, like blocking a filter in the Southside or near an entrance to Queen’s Park. Some have been placed on the road but even then can be installed in front of drop kerbs, etc.
• Garscube Rd landscaping is in place as well as more bike warning lights at side roads.
• Further north, near Firhill St, the new Garscube Link to the canal is taking shape.
• Royston Rd pop-up lane seems to be finished but some locals aren’t happy with the lane widths and new road layout at Broomfield Rd junction.

Contents
(new consultations in bold – link jumps to article)

Section 1: Current Consultations

1. Glasgow City Council – Burnfield Road (20mph Speed Limit) Order (9 July)
2. East Renfrewshire Council – Davieland Road Spaces for People project
3. North Lanarkshire Council – East Airdrie Link Road, Stage 2 survey
4. East Dunbartonshire Council – Active Travel Discussion (ends 28 Sept)

Section 2: Forthcoming Consultations

None this time.

Section 3: Consultation Feedback

1. East Dunbartonshire Council – Canniesburn Toll, GoBike response
2. Strathclyde Partnership for Transport – Regional Transport Strategy
3. South Lanarkshire Council – Active Travel networks
4. Dennistoun Community Council – Further update on Spaces for People scheme

Section 1: Current Consultations
(in date order for responses)

1.1: Glasgow City Council – Burnfield Road (20mph Speed Limit) Order

The order covers a former brownfield site near the Glasgow boundary with East Renfrewshire. It’s off Thornliebank Road near the train station and Eastwood cemeteries. See the Burnfield Road area plan and site boundary PDFs for exact location.

The report for the Burnfield Rd order says it’s applying recent policies to set a 20mph limit for a new development (Storey Grove – apparently before it’s completed). Other documents include a press notice and the usual statement of reasons.

Deadline for feedback – 9 July 2021.

1.2: East Renfrewshire Council – Davieland Road Spaces for People project

First discussed in Digest 87, Item 1.4, Davieland Rd is next to Rouken Glen Park in Giffnock. This Spaces for People project includes a temporary bike lane in one direction, bollards to protect a footway and a bike phase at traffic lights. A few GoBike members have been to try it out and reported a few issues with triggering the bike phase at the lights.

You can leave feedback about the scheme on the ERC’s Davieland Rd survey (no closing date is mentioned).

1.3: North Lanarkshire Council – East Airdrie Link Road, Stage 2 survey

This is a trunk road project that will bypass Chapelhall and Airdrie, as seen in Digest 88, Item 1.6. Active travel links were promised but details are scarce so far, apart from that they may be “separate” (possibly though Airdrie).

The road will link to the new Monklands hospital site at Wester Moffat, near Drumgelloch train station. In Digest 72, Item 3.1 we published the GoBike response about the hospital consultation, mentioning the on-road section of NCN75 nearby. Word has reached us that paths to improve the area have been discussed. Nothing official to report yet but fingers crossed for the future.

Meanwhile, see the East Airdrie Link Road, Stage 2 survey to give feedback about its route. 

1.4: East Dunbartonshire Council – Active Travel Discussion

This was in Digest 86, Item 1.2, including its ‘Ideas Map‘ for the East Dunbartonshire area. While East Dunbartonshire Council haven’t completed the Bears Way or done any Spaces for People schemes, Items 3.1 and 3.2, below, show they have done other active travel projects. However, these are still quite a long way from forming a comprehensive network and linking with neighbouring areas like Glasgow or North Lanarkshire.

There are no consultation events just now – the next online ones were due in August/September. See a full list of events and background info on the Active Travel Discussion webpage. Closing date – 28 September 2021.

Section 2: Forthcoming Consultations

None this time.

Section 3: Consultation Feedback

3.1 East Dunbartonshire Council – Canniesburn Toll, GoBike response

First covered in Digest 86, Item 1.3, there were two design options – one on-road and one on the footway. Both had serious drawbacks and sparked discussion about how the roundabout could be improved. That informed the GoBike response about Canniesburn Toll, which has now been sent to East Dumbartonshire Council. We’ll report back if there’s any response from EDC.

3.2: Strathclyde Partnership for Transport – Regional Transport Strategy

Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT) is a regional transport partnership, which runs the Glasgow Subway and some specialist bus services. We don’t often feature SPT, as they’re not usually the main funders putting forward infrastructure proposals. However, one of their Regional Transport Strategy documents lists the active travel projects funded by SPT across the former Strathclyde region (tucked away at Section 5, Table 2a, item 5). To save you scrolling, here is the summary…

“Actions and Projects:

Support delivery of improved active travel infrastructure and networks across Strathclyde including supporting actions within local authority cycling & active travel strategies.

Update and Status:

A number of cycling projects have been completed or progressed by local authorities in the region with support from SPT since 2018/19, including:

• Argyll and Bute: Helensburgh – Dumbarton regional cycle route: completion of design phase for the remaining 6 sections, land purchase of 2 sections and construction of 1 section.
• East Ayrshire: Completion of the detailed design for Kilmarnock – Crosshouse Hospital cycle route.
• East Dunbartonshire: Completion of: Lenzie Station Sustainable Transport Hub; Twechar path improvements; local links to Meadowburn Primary School, Bishopbriggs; links to the John Muir Way/NCN755 and between Forth and Clyde Canal and Kirkintilloch Town Centre; Milngavie – Mugdock path improvements; and progress Lennoxtown Access Improvements including improved local network links to NCN 755.
• East Renfrewshire: Completion of 1km shared use path in Barrhead.
• Glasgow: Delivery of improvements to signage, wayfinding and monitoring equipment on city-wide network.
• Inverclyde: Completion of design phase for Cloch Road and Newark – Parklea cycle routes and delivery of wayfinding and safety improvements on local and national cycling networks. Contributed to the design of a new Toucan Crossing on the A8 Dalrymple Street which will improve access for pedestrians and cyclist between Greenock Town Centre and NCN75.
• North Ayrshire: Completion of widened footway on Kilwinning Road from Kilwinning Bypass to town centre and completion of path network upgrades between Irvine town centre and i3 Enterprise Area including a section of NCN.
• North Lanarkshire: Completion of upgraded link from Holytown Station to the A723 along Loanhead Road. Completion of Ravenscraig Cycle Path (construction) and completion of design phase for Croy station access improvements.
• Renfrewshire: Completion of design phase for Paisley to Renfrew Cycle Route.
• South Lanarkshire: Continued delivery of East Kilbride active travel network; completion of Bothwell-Uddingston NCN74 & NCN75 connection via Fallside Road and Bellshill Road. Completion of initial designs for further sections of Hamilton, Lanark and Carluke active travel networks.
• South Ayrshire: Completion of Phase 1 of the Loans to Troon cycle path project Harling Drive to Dundonald Road and partial construction of phase 2 through Marr. Completion of design phase and partial construction of 2.8km Dundonald – Barassie path.

In 2021/22, SPT will support cycling projects including:

• Argyll and Bute: Construction of bridge over Geilston Burn (on Helensburgh – Dumbarton route).
• East Ayrshire: Completion of design phase for Crosshouse Hospital to Dundonald link.
• East Dunbartonshire: Design and construct Kirkintilloch & Lennoxtown local links.
• East Renfrewshire: Design and construct section of A77 Strategic Cycle Corridor.
• Glasgow: Installation of active travel network signage and monitoring equipment.
• North Ayrshire: Design further section of the Brodick to Corrie Cycle Path and construct sections of the Irvine local network.
• North Lanarkshire: Design and construct sections of Croy Station Access Improvements, Motherwell Station Active Travel Links and Ravenscraig Active Travel Link.
• South Ayrshire: South Ayrshire: Completion on the Alloway-Burton Cycle Route, commence Dundonald – Barassie cycle route Phase 1 and Cycle-friendly signalisation of B746 Kilmarnock Rd/ Lang Rd/ Commonwealth Dr junction.
• South Lanarkshire: Design and construct sections of East Kilbride Active Travel Network, Bothwell-Uddingston NCN connection, Larkhall – Blackwood and Carstairs Junction connections.
• West Dunbartonshire: Design and construct Strathleven link in Dumbarton town centre.”

Glasgow is usually at the front of the queue for Sustrans and other funding so it makes sense that most routes funded by SPT are outside the city. It’s quite a long list – maybe some food for thought for places to go over the summer!?

3.3 South Lanarkshire Council – Active Travel networks

Item 3.2, above, mentions South Lanarkshire’s active travel networks. The latest areas to have networks developed were Blantyre/Bothwell/Uddingston; Larkhall and Stonehouse/Strathaven (Digest 78, Item 1.3). There’s been a gap in updates on this since invites to the workshops didn’t reach either of the GoBike reps on South Lanarkshire Cycling Partnership. Luckily, another GoBike member did take part and passed on details. The downside is we’ve missed the chance to have our say in the discussion and the consultation on the drafts. However, for the record, here are the draft network reports (see p19 for maps).

• Bothwell, Blantyre and Uddingston network report.
• Larkhall network report.
• Strathaven, Stonehouse and surrounding villages network report.

Most of the obvious routes and destinations seem to be covered (but the street names are quite hard to read on all three). A few features don’t inspire confidence, such as making a ‘main route’ of the heavily vandalised Main St (B7012) underpass under the East Kilbride Expressway. Once the networks are finalised, the council should bid for funding to design key routes then progress to construction (as in 3.2, above).

3.4: Dennistoun Community Council – Further update on Spaces for People scheme

Last month, Dennistoun Community Council summarised the Spaces for People project that was put into the area (Digest 88, Item 3.2). This month, Glasgow City Council responded so there’s a further Q&A update on the DCC website.

The update also mentions the return of the Dennistoun & Royston Restricted Parking Zone and the new Dennistoun, Riddrie & Carntyne ‘Liveable Neighbourhood’ proposal. In the last few days, an old proposal has reappeared for a dual carriageway past Alexandra Park, between Dennistoun and Riddrie. So, there should be plenty to talk about in the near future.

This Digest is within a week of Burns Night so it’s fitting that we have some news from Ayrshire. A few consultations have come in from East Renfrewshire and South Lanarkshire. Also, a last chance to comment on plans for North Glasgow. So, is 2021 starting to pick up slightly? As Burns said: “Hope springs exulting on triumphant wing.“

Since there have been a few breaks in the weather maybe there will be more chances to try some of Andy’s three infrastructure routes around Glasgow.

There’s still time to sign the petition for segregated cycle lanes at the Kelvin Way-University Avenue junction (until 28 January).

This Digest includes links in the Contents page so you can jump straight to a topic if you want to.

Contents
(new consultations in bold)

Section 1: Current Consultations

1. Glasgow City Council – North Glasgow Strategic Development Framework (SDF), closes 29 January 2021
2. North Ayrshire Council – Ardrossan Connections Project, closes 3 February
3. South Lanarkshire Council – Active travel online consultations, all close 8 February
4. East Refrewshire Council – Spaces for People A77 ‘Bike and Roll’ corridor

Section 2: Forthcoming Consultations

1. UPDATE: Glasgow City Council – (Y)our Districts Online Ideas Workshops – ‘Learning Quarter’

Section 3: Consultation Feedback

1. East Ayrshire Council – NCN Route 73, Crosshouse Bridge infill, Cycle Diversion

Section 1: Current Consultations
(in date order for responses)

1.1: Glasgow City Council – North Glasgow Strategic Development Framework (SDF),
(closes 29 January 2021)

It’s the last few weeks of this consultation, which first featured in Digest 74, Item 1.5 with the GoBike response written by Brenda. It covers a large area north of the M8 to Possil and from Maryhill Rd to Springburn. It’s been a while in the making, so much so that the Sighthill Bridge might be completed before the final report is published. However, it is due to cover the next few decades. See the North Glasgow SDF consultation on GCC’s website before 29 January.

1.2: North Ayrshire Council – Ardrossan Connections Project (closes 3 February)

GoBike’s monthly rides would occasionally make it to the Ayrshire coast and Ardrossan has a choice of train stations for the trip back (or a ferry to Arran). Sustrans are running a Commonplace consultation about the town for North Ayrshire Council and Ardrossan Community Development Trust (as spotted by our member Steph).

Ardrossan has coastal off-road paths running past the town – NCN73, from neighbouring Saltcoats, goes to the harbour. NCN753 heads north to the outskirts of West Kilbride. This project seems to focus on the on-road bit between them at the town centre. If you’ve visited or know the area, see the Ardrossan Connections Commonplace map. You’ve only got a few weeks until 3 February.

1.3: South Lanarkshire Council – Active travel online consultations (all close 8 February)

GoBike member Marc alerted us to a new round of active travel consultations in South Lanarkshire. Previous ones included East Kilbride, which had its first section of segregated cycleway laid last year. The next lot of active travel studies are being run by Aecom – these are for:

• Blantyre, Bothwell & Uddingston;
• Larkhall;
• Strathaven & Stonehouse (and surrounding villages).

Strathaven boasts a few cycling clubs and some old railway lines, which could still be used for cycle paths. Stonehouse and Larkhall are linked by on-road sections of NCN74. Blantyre is currently on NCN74 but it’s due to re-route through Strathclyde Park, once a new link is built from the Raith Interchange to Laighlands Rd, Bothwell. Uddingston is where NCN routes 74 and 75 meet. It’s separated from Glasgow by part of North Lanarkshire, where Aecom are also doing an active travel audit. If you’ve ever wanted a cycleway on the Lanarkshire side, to link to the city’s segregated section past the Dog’s Trust, this is a great opportunity to mention it! Especially since GCC are building a new 2-way cycleway on London Rd past Mount Vernon station.

Again, these consultations take the form of a survey and Placecheck map for each area. However, after the issues with petrolheads swamping the comments of the previous Hamilton map, the format has changed slightly. This time, you have to complete the survey before you access the map. See SLC’s active travel consultations page by 8 February.

1.4: East Refrewshire Council – Spaces for People A77 ‘Bike and Roll’ corridor

Since the last Digest there’s been a lot of attention on the Spaces for People measures on Fenwick Rd/A77 in Giffnock (first mentioned in a blog post about East Ren last summer). Or rather, there’s been noise about what they’re not going to be. A local business latched onto a draft plan on the council’s website and posted about the council removing car parking. Many angry posts about car parking and shops ensued on Facebook and in the consultation. In the midst of all this, you may have seen that GoBike member Iona updated one of our Evidence pages – Bike Lanes are Great for Business.

ERC quickly took down the draft document and added a statement to the consultation that it had been there in error and there were no current plans for Giffnock High St. A local Tory MSP later held an online event about the measures on 18 January, which some GoBikers took part in.

What is already in place on Fenwick Rd is ‘soft’ segregation on the outside lanes of a section of the dual carriageway between Berryhill Road and Church Road. It started off as cones before ‘wands’ were fixed down to replace them (upper photo in Twitter post, below). Further on, the current A77 cycle lanes were made mandatory and had cones added. However, some of the cones have been re-arranged by local drivers (lower photos in Twitter post, below)…

So, it seems we will hear more from East Ren on the age old debate about safe cycle lanes versus convenient car parking. If you know the area and want to comment on both these measures on the A77, see ERC Spaces for People surveys. The map is closed but the survey pages don’t seem to list a closing date, so this one could go on for a while.

Section 2: Forthcoming Consultations

2.1: Glasgow City Council – (Y)our Districts Online Ideas Workshops – ‘Learning Quarter’

UPDATE: Online workshops were due to take place for the next city centre ‘Districts’ in GCC’s ongoing series. Unfortunately, the Merchant City date has already passed. However, the planned ‘Learning Quarter’ workshops have been postponed with a new date to follow. These events should be along similar lines to previous Cowcaddens and Townhead workshops covered in Digest 74. Hopefully we’ll have an update in the next Digest at the start of February.

Section 3: Consultation Feedback

3.1: East Ayrshire Council – NCN Route 73, Crosshouse Bridge infill, Cycle Diversion

This issue was raised by our ride leader Andy, who’s been following up on a programme of works on former railway bridges and viaducts. The Crosshouse Bridge near Knockentiber is on NCN73 between Kilmarnock and Irvine (one of Burns’ old stomping grounds). Diversion routes will be signposted in both directions for drivers but not for cyclists. GoBike have sent a letter by Tricia to East Ayrshire Council to ask for a signed cycle diversion in both directions.

As Burns wrote in ‘To A Mouse (On Turning Her Up In Her Nest With The Plough)’:
“The best-laid schemes o’ mice an’ men / Gang aft agley.”